The survey by ComRes for the Sunday Mirror and Independent on Sunday puts Labour on 36 per cent with David Cameron?s party on 28 per cent.
The UK Independence Party is on 18 per cent with the Liberal Democrats trailing in fourth on just eight per cent.
Mr Straw, speaking at the Telegraph Ways With Words Festival in Dartington Hall, Devon, said ?I agree with what Ed Miliband is proposing in respect of the relationship with the trade unions.
?The truth is that the trade unions play a less central role in people?s lives than they used to. That is a matter of regret, but it?s true.?
Mr Straw added that unions ?find it difficult these days? to find ?leadership positions of the quality of, for example, Jack Jones or Ernie Bevin?.
He said: ?I think we?ve got to recognise that the central place that trade unions used to play, right at the heart of communities, has gone.
"What Ed is debating is basically an opt out of the union system at the moment by which people pay a political levy and are signed up to the Labour Party automatically; people have to opt in.
He admitted it would affect the finances of the Labour Party, but pointed out the total sum was ?about a third? of the money they Conservative Party receives from hedge funds.
He added: ?Will we be able to fill the gap? I believe we can. I think we need to change our cultural approach to fundraising. In my experience you can raise money.
Mr Mullin, by contrast, said Labour could suffer a financial meltdown, warning: ?I can?t believe Ed is that naive, but it can?t be ruled out.?
Also speaking at the Ways With Words Festival, Mr Mullin added: ?If he does what he says, it is likely to result in a huge collapse in financial support for the Labour Party and usher in a one-party state for years to come.?
He claimed during a previous financial crisis for the party ?a few years back? that the banks ?almost foreclosed on us.?
Mr Mullin observed that Tony Blair, during whose premiership he was a minister, had not attempted to reform the financial link between the unions and Labour. ?If it?s such a good idea, why do you think he didn?t do it??
Mr Johnson, a former postman, said he agreed with Unite?s ?motivation? in wanting to get more working-class people into parliament, rather than middle-class people who had worked at Westminster as advisers and researchers.
He added: ?What happened recently in Falkirk is of course the wrong way to do it, but it was done on the basis of Unite saying that they want to get more working people into Parliament.
?I applaud the motivation but the way they tried to do that is totally unacceptable.?
Mr Johnson has called for a ballot of Labour members to endorse Mr Miliband?s planned reforms.
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